GOP lawmakers push Charlie Kirk commemorative coin after assassination
Two Republican lawmakers urge minting 400,000 silver dollars bearing Kirk’s image with a design to be finalized by federal authorities, joining a broader push to memorialize the right-wing commentator.
GOP lawmakers on Friday announced a bid to memorialize Charlie Kirk on U.S. coins, proposing the minting of 400,000 silver dollars bearing the right-wing influencer’s image after his assassination earlier this month. Texas Republican Rep. August Pfluger and Arizona Rep. Abe Hamadeh told Fox News they will introduce the Charlie Kirk Commemorative Coin Act to the U.S. Treasury, arguing the coin would honor an American figure they say helped shape political discourse for millions of Americans. If the measure advances, Kirk would be the youngest person ever depicted on U.S. currency, they claimed, and the coin would serve as a lasting reminder of his life and work. Kirk was killed on September 10 in front of students and supporters at Utah Valley University during his American Comeback tour, an event described by supporters as a political assault on a figure they characterized as influential and controversial.
Under the proposal, the obverse would feature Kirk’s likeness, while the reverse would bear the words "well done, good and faithful servant." The bill would also inscribe the podcaster’s full name, Charles James Kirk, and the year 2026. The final design would be determined by the Treasury Secretary, a position held by Scott Bessent, in consultation with President Donald Trump and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee. The lawmakers noted that, if minted, Kirk would join a pantheon of historical figures who have appeared on U.S. currency, including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, former Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall, and Susan B. Anthony.
The push follows a broader pattern of attempts to memorialize Kirk in the wake of his death, which supporters characterized as a devastating loss. Florida Sen. Rick Scott had introduced a resolution on October 14, 2025—Kirk’s would-be 32nd birthday—calling for a National Day of Remembrance. The measure, reported by The Hill, passed as a simple resolution, recognizing Kirk’s life and encouraging educational institutions and civic groups to observe the day with programs focused on civic engagement, faith, liberty and democracy. Scott described Kirk as a man whose life reflected faith, family and the American ideal of vigorous, peaceful debate.
In Florida, the memorial discussion extended to roadside markers proposed to honor Kirk. The Lake County Commission in Tavares unanimously backed the proposal from Commissioner Anthony Sabatini, but the plan sparked a two-and-a-half hour debate in which most speakers opposed the marker, arguing that such honors should be reserved for others, including local law enforcement figures who died in the line of duty. Sabatini defended his stance, but he drew sharp criticism from residents who felt the debate had grown acrimonious. Anna Paulina Luna, a Republican representative and former Turning Point USA employee, urged House Speaker Mike Johnson to erect a statue of Kirk in the U.S. Capitol, arguing that the memorial would stand as a permanent reminder that political disagreement should not justify violence. Luna wrote that the political environment had become toxic, with rhetoric from the left contributing to a climate in which dissent could be attacked rather than debated.
The proposals to memorialize Kirk—whether on currency, in statutes, or through commemorative markers—reflect a broader, highly partisan conversation about how to honor political figures who have become symbols for different strands of American civic life. The coin measure, if introduced in Congress, would require approval from multiple branches of government and independent advisory bodies before any coins could be minted. The design choices, including the portrayal of Kirk and the inscription on the reverse, would be subject to federal standards and processes, underscoring the complexities of turning memorial wishes into currency.
As clustered as these efforts are, they are indicative of a moment in American politics in which memory and currency intersect, with supporters arguing that such honors preserve a legacy and critics warning against turning political conflict into symbolic currency. For now, the Charlie Kirk Commemorative Coin Act remains a proposal awaiting introduction and deliberation in Congress, while related memorial efforts continue to surface in state and national forums. The extent to which these efforts will translate into policy—or into a broader, lasting public memory—remains to be seen.